Maintaining a democracy is not a spectator sport

Corbin is Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the University of Northern Iowa

Martin Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor, wrote a confessional entitled “First They Came…” after World War II. The four-line essay explains in direct language how the Nazis came to power by systematically silencing German intellectuals and the clergy.

The most famous version of the prose is in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum:

At first they came for the socialists, and I didn't comment on it – because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came to get the unionists and I didn't speak out – because I wasn't a unionist.
Then they came to get the Jews and I didn't speak out – because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came to get me – and there was no one left to speak for me.

Let's be honest. Since the founding of the Tea Party in 2009, several groups—on their own initiative and/or in collaboration with political parties, biased think tanks, political action committees, and politicians—have attempted to silence you and me through a variety of measures. If Niemöller's 1946 verse reflected America in 2024, it might read:

First they came to restrict women's reproductive rights and the rights of LGBTQIA, transgender youth, people with mental health problems, the physically disabled and the homeless, and I didn't comment on that – because I decided the issues were too complex, to cope with them.

Then they came to ban books and denigrate public education, and I didn't comment on it – because I don't have children in school.

Then they came to denounce Black Lives Matter and people from other countries while simultaneously embracing white nationalism and evangelical Christian nationalism, and I didn't speak out – because I didn't know how to get involved.

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Then they moved on to disregarding diversity, equity, inclusion and sexual harassment claims, and I didn't speak up about it – because I'm just one person.

Then they came to praise the autocratic leaders of Russia, China, North Korea, Hungary and Argentina, and I didn't speak up – because I didn't know who to share my concerns with.

Then they came to push isolationism, crush America's allies, and put pressure on global free trade, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, NATO, and the United Nations, and I didn't comment on that – because I'm not in a leadership position.

Then they came to cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare, and I didn't speak up about it – because I'm too busy working two jobs to make ends meet.

Then they came to abolish eminent domain and impose an outright ban on asylum and immigration laws instead of passing the comprehensive immigration reform needed, even though 98 percent of Americans are of immigrant descent, and I haven't spoken out on that – because my elected officials are the problems also ignore.

Then they came to ridicule and defund the Justice Department, the IRS, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Defense, and I didn't comment on that – because that's up to the politicians, not me.

Then they came to liberate the January 6 Capitol insurrectionists, erased the voices of their fellow citizens, threatened the lives of election volunteers, identified judicial actions as witch hunts, and claimed presidential immunity was paramount commented on this – because I decided that the decision is a matter for the courts.

Then they ignored bipartisanship, the $34 trillion national debt, the $1.7 trillion federal deficit, aid to Ukraine and climate change, and I didn't speak out – because I was afraid, against my wishes political party to take a stand.

Then they came to impose politically sponsored gerrymandering, the unification of church and state, the abandonment of any kind of sensible gun control legislation, and the re-election of politicians who put their party before the people and claim to be their “revenge and retaliation” candidate to be, and I haven't spoken up – because I'm getting tired of the political games.

Then they realized, “The only thing necessary for the victory of evil is good people.” [and women] nothing to do” and that knowledge of democracy is not a spectator sport, and vowed to vote on November 5th so that America would not fall back into dictatorial-authoritarian control – because if not, “then they came for me – and there was no one there. “left to speak for me.”

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